April was a month filled withfabulousbooks, podcasts, recipes, and articles that stretched me and gave me much to think about. My husband, Adam, will be chiming in on the book and podcast section. Be sure to read to the end for some surprises... Books

Leslie read:

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan StevensonI cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is the true tale of an African American lawyer in the south fighting for rights of death row inmates who were unjustly incarcerated. Though it is non-fiction, it reads more like fiction as Stevenson draws you into the stories of the men and women he has met on his journey as an attorney. This book illuminates the racial injustices that are happening not during slavery or the early 1900's, but RIGHT NOW. It proves that we are not in post-racial times, but still living in the midst of rash injustice. Please read it.

The Furious Longing of God by Brennan ManningI read this in the mornings this month as a devotional. Like his other books, Manning draws you up into his love affair with Jesus through his poetic words and vulnerability. It is a very quick read and I'd recommend using it as a companion to your daily Bible reading. Beautiful words from a beautiful soul.

The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy & 'Women's Work' by Kathleen NorrisThis was a quick read and in a monastic way Norris aids the reader in extracting spiritual meaning from menial chores and simple daily living. She says: "We want life to have meaning, we want fulfillment, healing and even ecstasy, but the human paradox is that we find these things by starting where we are, not where we wish we were." And another quote that summarizes her ideas is: "I have come to believe that the true mystics of the quotidian are not those who contemplate holiness in isolation, reaching godlike illumination in serene silence, but those who manage to find God in a life filled with noise, the demands of other people and relentless daily duties that can consume the self."

Between Worlds: Essays on Culture and Belonging by Marylin GardnerThis was my night stand reading this month since each chapter was only a page or two and told a brief sketch of her thoughts about living "between worlds" in Pakistan, Egypt and the U.S. Having lived overseas myself, I could identify with some of her feelings of grief over leaving a land you love and confusion about identity. This is a lovely book that dives into deep subjects without making you feel that you are underwater.

Adam read:

The Stand by Stephen KingSo, I (Adam) have this condition called popularity aversion. I'm allergic to hype, as it were. This means if something is popular I tend to avoid it and look down my snooty little nose. Despite being a lifelong SciFi and fantasy fan, I have never read Harry Potter, and I read Game of Thrones back in the 90s when it was cool and no one knew about it, darn it. All this to say I've avoided Stephen King my whole life. Surely any writer that prolific with books cramming the airport book seller's stands must be low brow and common. As I age and slowly pull on the mantle of wisdom (and aching joints), however, I'm trying to let this go. So - The Stand. I'm a huge fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, and The Stand is one of the only novels in this genre I haven't read, and I finally decided to give it a chance. It's great! A bit long at 1200 pages, but worth it. He knows how to spin a yarn, and his characters have depth and reality.Podcasts Leslie's podcasts:This was the month of podcasts, as you'll see. I feel the need to explain how I managed to listen to so many (and thus prove I wasn't shirking all my other duties). Here's when I listened: in the shower (if they speak loud enough--thank you, Megan Tietz), while doing laundry, cooking dinner, picking up toys, driving (I got some good listening in when I drove around the mountains for two hours while my kids napped on the way home from the zoo), while getting ready in the morning and while cleaning. The Liturgists:Episode 34--Black & White: Racism in America This is the most important podcast I've ever listened to. At an hour and a half, it takes some time, but it is completely worth it. In it, two white guys and two African Americans candidly discuss the race issue in America in a way that lays out the problem in a very articulate, real and honest way.On Being:Nadia Bolz-Weber--Seeing the Underside and Seeing GodNadia was one of the keynote speakers at a recent writing conference I didn't get to go to, so I read many of her quotes on Twitter and admired her from afar. I was excited to this podcast interview. First of all, as a former comedian, she is hilarious. And she is exactly the kind of out-of-the-box Jesus follower that reminds you that you are following a God become flesh and bone. She is witty, honest, real and refreshing. The Practice:This was a new podcast for me that I found mainly because I wanted to hear Sarah Bessey speak. More than just a podcast, you find yourself entering into Jesus' presence as you are invited into this community's worship service. It had me weeping more than once this month. I have really loved the following episodes so far:Stories of Resurrection in Religion: Sarah BesseyStories of Resurrection in Race: David BaileySeven Practices for Sabbath Keeping: Rabbi Evan MofficRestory:Because of my own story of coming home from China, I loved this podcast about Amy Young and her story of returning to the U.S. after 20 years in China.Seminary DropOut:This one was new to me and I am absolutely loving it so far. Austin Channing Brown shared about how she got into racial activism and Shane Claiborne talked about radical living for Jesus. I'm looking forward to delving into the archives to hear more.